Source: “The Knights templar And Scotland”, By Robert Ferguson, The History Press, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2011.
10. The Scottish Knights Templar - A Hidden History of Survival, Treachery, and Resurgence.mp4
10. The Scottish Knights Templar - A Hidden History of Survival, Treachery, and Resurgence.m4a
This topic traces the purported survival and evolution of the Knights Templar in Scotland following their official suppression in the early 14th century. It highlights how the Battle of Bannockburn significantly altered the Templars' fate in Scotland, leading to their continued, albeit often covert, presence and influence, particularly through the confirmation of their landholdings and alleged connections to Scottish royalty like Robert the Bruce. The text details instances of their potential involvement in historical events, such as the journey of Bruce's heart and the Battle of Halidon Hill, suggesting a continued active role rather than complete disbandment. Furthermore, it explains the complex and often contentious relationship between the Templars and the Hospitallers over property management and leadership, culminating in the "embezzlement" by Sir John Sandilands that forced the Templars underground. Finally, the document recounts the "rebirth" of the Order under Alexander Deuchar in the 19th century, emphasizing his efforts to unify various Templar factions and establish the independent Militi Templi Scotia, solidifying the idea of an unbroken, albeit sometimes hidden, lineage of the Scottish Knights Templar.
Topic 1 The Templar Inquisition's Limited Scope in Scotland The Templar inquisition, initiated by Edward II, had a restricted reach in Scotland. It only extended north to Edinburgh and Stirling Castle, which were the areas under Edward II's control. Robert the Bruce controlled the majority of the remaining parts of Scotland. This geographical limitation meant that a significant portion of the Scottish Templars, particularly those outside Edward II's direct authority, were not subjected to the inquisition, allowing for their potential continued existence in these regions.
Topic 2 Robert the Bruce's Support and Property Confirmation Following the pivotal Battle of Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce, who had gained control over much of Scotland, actively confirmed all previous grants of property belonging to both the Templars and the Hospitallers. This act was significant because it legitimized the Templars' landholdings in Scotland despite the wider suppression of the Order in Europe. This process of property confirmation was also said to have been continued by Bruce's successors, suggesting a long-standing recognition of these land rights by the Scottish crown.
Topic 3 Circumstantial Evidence for Templar Survival Despite a scarcity of direct evidence regarding the Templars' presence in Scotland after the Battle of Bannockburn, a considerable amount of circumstantial evidence supports their continued existence through the twentieth century to the present. This evidence includes the Templars' sustained control over a significant amount of property throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, which was leased to tenants for fixed rents or man-service. Furthermore, these properties continued to be managed by "baillis," local administrators who would have been crucial for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the Templar estates.
Topic 4 Hospitallers' Difficulty in Scotland Pope Clement V's papal bull, "Ad providam," which mandated the transfer of Templar property to the Hospitallers, was largely ignored in Scotland for several decades. The primary reason for this was the Hospitallers' strong historical connection to England and their unwavering loyalty to the Pope, which made it exceedingly difficult for them to remain in or return to Scotland once Robert the Bruce began to assert control. Unlike the Scottish people and the Templars, the Hospitallers maintained their allegiance to the Papacy, which put them at odds with the independent Scottish crown, thereby hindering their ability to claim or manage the Templar lands effectively.
Topic 5 Separate Templar Property Management Even after the formal title to Templar lands was eventually transferred to the Hospitallers, the management of these properties remained distinct. A report in 1338 by Brother Philip de Thame noted that the lands of the Hospitallers and Templars were reported separately, with no attempt to integrate their inventories. For approximately 200 years, the Scottish Templar lands (Terrae Templariae) were accounted for separately by the Hospitallers or by a combined "Order of St John and the Temple." Crucially, the on-site management continued to be conducted by the "Temple baillis," who collected rents and even held separate courts, indicating a persistent, distinct operational presence of Templar administration, even though ultimate management responsibility lay with the Hospitallers.
Topic 6 Templar-Hospitaller Arrangement for Business Conduct The continued existence of Templar baillis without being replaced by Hospitaller counterparts, combined with an arrangement that was both "natural and politic," further supports the survival of the Templars. Despite the ban against the Templars in Europe severely restricting their ability to conduct business, the Hospitallers, who were well-received by continental sovereigns due to their influence and wealth, could represent the Templars before European courts. This allowed the Templars to maintain a presence and protect their interests, albeit indirectly, through their alliance with the Hospitallers, highlighting a pragmatic solution to their legal constraints.
Topic 7 Alleged Templar Involvement with Sir James Douglas (1330) One of the first events with alleged Templar involvement after Bannockburn occurred in 1330. A group of Scottish knights, led by Sir James Douglas, undertook a mission to carry Robert the Bruce's heart to the Holy Land. During their journey through Spain, they participated in a battle against the Moors at Teba. A key element supporting the belief that Templars were present was the Scots' use of a specific battle tactic, perfected by the Templars in Outremer and named after the Templar officer "Turcopolier." This wedge-shaped charge, requiring knights to act as a cohesive unit rather than individually, was considered unique to the Templars and suggests their potential presence or influence among Douglas's contingent.
Topic 8 Adam De Vipont's Representation in Literature (1333) The fictional dramatic poem "The Battle of Halidon Hill" by Sir Walter Scott features Adam De Vipont as a Knight Templar fighting for Scotland in 1333. When captured, De Vipont defiantly states, "I was a Scotsman ere I was a Templar. Sworn to my country ere I knew my Order," which some interpret as confirmation that Templars continued to fight for Scotland after the Order's suppression in France. Sir Walter Scott, known for extensive independent research and his friendship with Alexander Deuchar (who resurrected the Militi Templi Scotia), provides a literary, albeit fictional, reference that lends a degree of foundation to the idea of Templar continuity and recruitment post-suppression.
Topic 9 Formal Recognition of Separate Orders by James IV (1488) In 1488, King James IV issued a significant charter titled "Deo et Sancto Hospitali de Jerusalem et fratribus ejusdem Militiae Templi Salamonis." This document explicitly "reaffirmed" all ancient rights and privileges granted by his predecessors to "both the Order of St John and the Templars." While it formally placed both Orders under the Preceptor of the Order of St John, this charter is widely cited as proof of the Templars' continued existence as an entity separate and apart from the Hospitallers, indicating ongoing royal recognition of their distinct identity well after the European suppression.